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List of governors of New Jersey facts for kids

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Governor of New Jersey
Coat of Arms of New Jersey.svg
Gov. Phil Murphy (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Phil Murphy

since January 16, 2018
Style
Residence Drumthwacket
Seat Trenton, New Jersey
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument New Jersey Constitution of 1776
Precursor Governor of New Jersey (Great Britain)
Inaugural holder William Livingston
Formation August 31, 1776
(248 years ago)
 (1776-08-31)
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey

The Governor of New Jersey is the main leader of the state of New Jersey. They are in charge of the state government and also lead New Jersey's military forces. The Governor makes sure state laws are followed. They can also approve new laws or say 'no' to them (this is called a veto) if the New Jersey Legislature passes them. They can also call the Legislature together for special meetings and forgive people for certain crimes.

The first New Jersey State Constitution was created in 1776. It said that the state legislature would choose the governor each year. Back then, the governor was also the head of the upper part of the legislature, called the Legislative Council.

In 1844, a new constitution changed things. People started voting for the governor directly. The governor no longer led the upper house, which was now called the Senate. The governor's term also became three years long. Governors could not serve right after themselves.

The 1947 constitution made the governor's term four years. It also said that a governor could only be elected for two terms in a row. However, they could run again after a break. Some governors, like Joseph Bloomfield and A. Harry Moore, served more than once, but not always in a row.

The 1776 constitution said that if the governor's job was empty, the vice-president of the Legislative Council would step in. The 1844 and 1947 constitutions then put the president of the Senate next in line. In 2006, a new rule created the job of Lieutenant Governor. This person is elected with the governor and takes over if the governor's office becomes empty. The first Lieutenant Governor started in 2010.

New Jersey has had 56 official governors. Only one of them has been a woman. Some people also served as "acting" governors for a short time. A law signed in 2006 said that acting governors who served for at least 180 days could be counted as full governors. This changed the official numbers for some past governors.

The first and longest-serving governor was William Livingston. He served from 1776 to 1790. A. Harry Moore served the longest as a governor chosen by popular vote. The current and 56th governor is Phil Murphy. He is a Democrat and started his term on January 16, 2018.

Governors of New Jersey

New Jersey was one of the original Thirteen Colonies in America. It became a state on December 18, 1787. Before that, it was a colony of Great Britain.

Before 2010, New Jersey did not have a Lieutenant Governor. If the governor's job was empty or they couldn't do their duties, the president of the State Senate would become the acting governor. This meant one person had power in both the executive (governor's) and legislative (law-making) branches.

The acting governor would serve until a new election was held, or until the governor could return to their duties. If the governor left office less than 16 months before their term ended, the acting governor would serve until the end of that term.

After Governor Christine Todd Whitman resigned in 2001, Donald DiFrancesco became the acting governor. Later, John O. Bennett served as acting governor for a few days. During that time, he signed some laws and held events at Drumthwacket, the governor's home.

Similarly, Richard Codey also served as acting governor in January 2002. Because the State Senate had two co-presidents, both Codey and Bennett took turns being acting governor for three days each. Richard Codey later served as governor from November 2004 to January 2006 after Jim McGreevey resigned.

Because of these changes in leadership, New Jersey voters approved a new rule in 2005. This rule created the job of lieutenant governor of New Jersey. This new position started with the 2009 state elections.

Governors of the State of New Jersey
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 William Livingston, by John Wollaston (1750).jpg   William Livingston
(1723–1790)
August 31, 1776

July 25, 1790
(died in office)
Federalist 1776 Office did not exist
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
No image.svg Elisha Lawrence
(1746–1799)
July 25, 1790

October 29, 1790
(successor took office)
Federalist Vice-president of
the Legislative
Council acting
2 William Paterson copy.jpg William Paterson
(1745–1806)
October 29, 1790

May 27, 1793
(resigned)
Federalist 1790
1791
1792
No image.svg Thomas Henderson
(1743–1824)
May 27, 1793

June 3, 1793
(successor took office)
Federalist Vice-president of
the Legislative
Council acting
3 Governor Richard Howell.jpg Richard Howell
(1754–1802)
June 3, 1793

October 31, 1801
(did not run)
Federalist 1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
4 Portrait of Joseph Bloomfield.jpg Joseph Bloomfield
(1753–1823)
October 31, 1801

October 28, 1802
(deadlocked election)
Democratic-
Republican
1801
Johnlambert.jpg John Lambert
(1746–1823)
October 28, 1802

October 27, 1803
(successor took office)
Democratic-
Republican
1802
4 Portrait of Joseph Bloomfield.jpg Joseph Bloomfield
(1753–1823)
October 27, 1803

October 29, 1812
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
5 Aaron Ogden.jpg Aaron Ogden
(1756–1839)
October 29, 1812

October 29, 1813
(lost election)
Federalist 1812
6 William Sanford Pennington.jpg William Sanford Pennington
(1757–1826)
October 29, 1813

June 19, 1815
(resigned)
Democratic-
Republican
1813
1814
No image.svg William Kennedy
(1775–1826)
June 19, 1815

October 26, 1815
(successor took office)
Democratic-
Republican
Vice-president of
the Legislative
Council acting
7 Mahlon Dickerson.jpg Mahlon Dickerson
(1770–1853)
October 26, 1815

February 1, 1817
(resigned)
Democratic-
Republican
1815
1816
8 Isaac H. Williamson.jpg Isaac Halstead Williamson
(1767–1844)
February 6, 1817

October 30, 1829
(lost election)
Democratic-
Republican
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
GDWall.jpg Garret D. Wall
(1783–1850)
October 30, 1829

November 2, 1829
(declined)
Democratic 1829
9 PeterDumontVroom.jpg Peter Dumont Vroom
(1791–1873)
November 6, 1829

October 26, 1832
(lost election)
Democratic
1830
1831
10 Samuel L. Southard.jpg Samuel L. Southard
(1787–1842)
October 26, 1832

February 27, 1833
(resigned)
Whig 1832
11 Elias P. Seeley.jpg Elias P. Seeley
(1791–1846)
February 27, 1833

October 25, 1833
(lost election)
Whig
9 PeterDumontVroom.jpg Peter Dumont Vroom
(1791–1873)
October 25, 1833

November 3, 1836
(resigned)
Democratic 1833
1834
1835
12 Philemon Dickerson (New Jersey governor and judge).jpg Philemon Dickerson
(1788–1862)
November 3, 1836

October 27, 1837
(lost election)
Democratic 1836
13 William Pennington portrait.jpg William Pennington
(1796–1862)
October 27, 1837

October 27, 1843
(did not run)
Whig 1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
14 Daniel Haines (cropped).tif Daniel Haines
(1801–1877)
October 27, 1843

January 21, 1845
(did not run)
Democratic 1843
15 Charles C. Stratton.png Charles C. Stratton
(1796–1859)
January 21, 1845

January 18, 1848
(term-limited)
Whig 1844
14 Daniel Haines (cropped).tif Daniel Haines
(1801–1877)
January 18, 1848

January 21, 1851
(term-limited)
Democratic 1847
16 George Franklin Fort.jpg George Franklin Fort
(1809–1872)
January 21, 1851

January 17, 1854
(term-limited)
Democratic 1850
17 Rodman McCamley Price (cropped).jpg Rodman M. Price
(1816–1894)
January 17, 1854

January 20, 1857
(term-limited)
Democratic 1853
18 Hon. William A. Newell, N.J - NARA - 528145 (1).jpg William A. Newell
(1817–1901)
January 20, 1857

January 17, 1860
(term-limited)
Republican 1856
19 Charles Smith Olden.jpg Charles Smith Olden
(1799–1876)
January 17, 1860

January 20, 1863
(term-limited)
Republican 1859
20 JoelParker-small.png Joel Parker
(1816–1888)
January 20, 1863

January 16, 1866
(term-limited)
Democratic 1862
21 Marcus Lawrence Ward (1812-1884) circa 1860.jpg Marcus Lawrence Ward
(1812–1884)
January 16, 1866

January 19, 1869
(term-limited)
Republican 1865
22 Theodore Fitz Randolph - Brady-Handy.jpg Theodore Fitz Randolph
(1826–1883)
January 19, 1869

January 16, 1872
(term-limited)
Democratic 1868
20 JoelParker-small.png Joel Parker
(1816–1888)
January 16, 1872

January 19, 1875
(term-limited)
Democratic 1871
23 JosephDBedle.jpg Joseph D. Bedle
(1831–1894)
January 19, 1875

January 15, 1878
(term-limited)
Democratic 1874
24 George B McClellan - c1880.jpg George B. McClellan
(1826–1885)
January 15, 1878

January 18, 1881
(term-limited)
Democratic 1877
25 George C Ludlow.jpg George C. Ludlow
(1830–1900)
January 18, 1881

January 15, 1884
(term-limited)
Democratic 1880
26 Leon Abbett.jpg Leon Abbett
(1836–1894)
January 15, 1884

January 18, 1887
(term-limited)
Democratic 1883
27 Robert Stockton Green.jpg Robert Stockton Green
(1831–1895)
January 18, 1887

January 21, 1890
(term-limited)
Democratic 1886
26 Leon Abbett.jpg Leon Abbett
(1836–1894)
January 21, 1890

January 17, 1893
(term-limited)
Democratic 1889
28 George Theodore Werts.jpg George Theodore Werts
(1846–1910)
January 17, 1893

January 21, 1896
(term-limited)
Democratic 1892
29 Griggs2.jpg John W. Griggs
(1849–1927)
January 21, 1896

January 31, 1898
(resigned)
Republican 1895
Foster MacGowan Voorhees.jpg Foster McGowan Voorhees
(1856–1927)
January 31, 1898

October 18, 1898
(resigned)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
David Ogden Watkins.jpg David Ogden Watkins
(1862–1938)
October 18, 1898

January 17, 1899
(successor took office)
Republican Speaker of
the Assembly
acting
30 Foster MacGowan Voorhees.jpg Foster McGowan Voorhees
(1856–1927)
January 17, 1899

January 21, 1902
(term-limited)
Republican 1898
31 Franklin Murphy (NJ).jpg Franklin Murphy
(1846–1920)
January 21, 1902

January 17, 1905
(term-limited)
Republican 1901
32 Edward C. Stokes.jpg Edward C. Stokes
(1860–1942)
January 17, 1905

January 21, 1908
(term-limited)
Republican 1904
33 John Franklin Fort.jpg John Franklin Fort
(1852–1920)
January 21, 1908

January 17, 1911
(term-limited)
Republican 1907
34 President Woodrow Wilson portrait December 2 1912.jpg Woodrow Wilson
(1856–1924)
January 17, 1911

March 1, 1913
(resigned)
Democratic 1910
James Fairman Fielder 1.jpg James Fairman Fielder
(1867–1954)
March 1, 1913

October 28, 1913
(resigned)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
Taylor 4408100303 d9249a5c19 o.jpg Leon Rutherford Taylor
(1883–1924)
October 28, 1913

January 20, 1914
(successor took office)
Democratic Speaker of
the Assembly
acting
35 James Fairman Fielder 1.jpg James Fairman Fielder
(1867–1954)
January 20, 1914

January 16, 1917
(term-limited)
Democratic 1913
36 Walteredge.jpg Walter Evans Edge
(1873–1956)
January 16, 1917

May 16, 1919
(resigned)
Republican 1916
William Nelson Runyon.jpg William Nelson Runyon
(1871–1931)
May 16, 1919

January 13, 1920
(senate term expired)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
Clarence Edwards Case.jpg Clarence E. Case
(1877–1961)
January 13, 1920

January 20, 1920
(successor took office)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
37 Edward Irving Edwards.jpg Edward I. Edwards
(1863–1931)
January 20, 1920

January 15, 1923
(term-limited)
Democratic 1919
38 George S Silzer.jpg George Sebastian Silzer
(1870–1940)
January 15, 1923

January 19, 1926
(term-limited)
Democratic 1922
39 A Harry Moore 1927.jpg A. Harry Moore
(1877–1952)
January 19, 1926

January 15, 1929
(term-limited)
Democratic 1925
40 Morgan F. Larson (cropped).jpg Morgan Foster Larson
(1882–1961)
January 15, 1929

January 19, 1932
(term-limited)
Republican 1928
39 A Harry Moore 1927.jpg A. Harry Moore
(1877–1952)
January 19, 1932

January 3, 1935
(resigned)
Democratic 1931
Senator Clifford R. Powell.jpg Clifford Ross Powell
(1893–1973)
January 3, 1935

January 8, 1935
(senate term expired)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
Horace G. Prall (New Jersey governor).jpg Horace Griggs Prall
(1881–1951)
January 8, 1935

January 15, 1935
(successor took office)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
41 Harold G. Hoffman (New Jersey Governor).jpg Harold G. Hoffman
(1896–1954)
January 15, 1935

January 18, 1938
(term-limited)
Republican 1934
39 Senator A. Harry Moore (cropped).jpg A. Harry Moore
(1877–1952)
January 18, 1938

January 21, 1941
(term-limited)
Democratic 1937
42 Charles Edison.jpg Charles Edison
(1890–1969)
January 21, 1941

January 18, 1944
(term-limited)
Democratic 1940
36 Walteredge.jpg Walter Evans Edge
(1873–1956)
January 18, 1944

January 21, 1947
(term-limited)
Republican 1943
43 Alfred E. Driscoll (cropped).jpg Alfred E. Driscoll
(1902–1975)
January 21, 1947

January 19, 1954
(term-limited)
Republican 1946
1949
44 Robert B. Meyner (NJ).jpg Robert B. Meyner
(1908–1990)
January 19, 1954

January 16, 1962
(term-limited)
Democratic 1953
1957
45 Richard J. Hughes 1962 (cropped).jpg Richard J. Hughes
(1909–1992)
January 16, 1962

January 20, 1970
(term-limited)
Democratic 1961
1965
46 William-Thomas-Cahill.png William T. Cahill
(1912–1996)
January 20, 1970

January 15, 1974
(lost nomination)
Republican 1969
47 Brendan Byrne (NJ 2).png Brendan Byrne
(1924–2018)
January 15, 1974

January 19, 1982
(term-limited)
Democratic 1973
1977
48 Thomas H. Kean (cropped).png Thomas Kean
(b. 1935)
January 19, 1982

January 16, 1990
(term-limited)
Republican 1981
1985
49 Jamesflorio (cropped).jpg James Florio
(1937–2022)
January 16, 1990

January 18, 1994
(lost election)
Democratic 1989
50 WhitmanChristineTodd.jpg Christine Todd Whitman
(b. 1946)
January 18, 1994

January 31, 2001
(resigned)
Republican 1993
1997
51 Donald DiFrancesco.jpg Donald DiFrancesco
(b. 1944)
January 31, 2001

January 8, 2002
(senate term expired)
Republican Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
John Farmer Jr. 2015.jpg John Farmer Jr.
(b. 1957)
January 8, 2002

January 8, 2002
(successor took office)
Republican Attorney
general
acting
No image.svg John O. Bennett
(b. 1948)
January 8, 2002

January 12, 2002
(successor took office)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
Codey2011 (cropped).jpg Richard Codey
(b. 1946)
January 12, 2002

January 15, 2002
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
52 Jim McGreevey 2009 Exodus 7 (cropped).jpg Jim McGreevey
(b. 1957)
January 15, 2002

November 15, 2004
(resigned)
Democratic 2001
53 Codey2011 (cropped).jpg Richard Codey
(b. 1946)
November 16, 2004

January 17, 2006
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
54 SenatorJonCorzine (cropped).jpg Jon Corzine
(b. 1947)
January 17, 2006

January 19, 2010
(lost election)
Democratic 2005
55 Chris Christie April 2015 (cropped).jpg Chris Christie
(b. 1962)
January 19, 2010

January 16, 2018
(term-limited)
Republican 2009   Guadagno, KimKim Guadagno
2013
56 Gov. Phil Murphy (cropped).jpg Phil Murphy
(b. 1957)
January 16, 2018

Incumbent
Democratic 2017 Oliver, SheilaSheila Oliver
(died August 1, 2023)
2021
Vacant
Way, TaheshaTahesha Way
(appointed September 8, 2023)

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